Modeling 1/f noise

The noise of signals or currents consisting of a sequence of pulses, elemen tary events, or moving discrete objects (particles), is analyzed. A simple analytically solvable model is investigated in detail both analytically and numerically. It is shown that 1/f noise may result from the statistics of the pulses' transit times, with random increments of the time intervals bet ween the pulses. The model also serves as a basis for revealing parameter d ependences of 1/f noise, and allows one to make some generalizations. As a result the intensity of 1/f noise is expressed through the distribution and characteristic functions of the time intervals between the subsequent tran sit times of the pulses. The conclusion that 1/f noise may result from the clustering of the signal pulses, elementary events, or particles can be dra wn from an analysis of the model systems. [S1063-651X(98)00812-5].